Latest News

FRANK ZICARELLI, Toronto Sun

The last thing any team should do, whether it’s playing well or going through turbulence, is get caught up in the schedule.

As sure as players and coaches look at the standings, it’s human nature to peek ahead and see what the immediate future has in store.

For the Raptors, what looms is a good chance to build upon Monday’s win in Charlotte.

Toronto’s win was far from perfect, but it represented an important psychological lift that was absolutely required following back-to-back losses to Denver and Miami when the Raptors were in a position to win and should have won had they paid more attention to details.

Had Chris Bosh kept possession of a missed free throw by Carmelo Anthony and had Bosh not missed his own attempt from the line, the Raptors would have knocked off the Nuggets.

Had the Raptors not blown a 17-point lead and created more looks when Miami made its predictable run with Dwyane Wade handling the ball, Toronto escapes South Florida with a win.

The margin for error with the Raptors is thin, but their fragile state did get a boost, and how they capitalize in the next three games will go a long way in determining their playoff hopes and seeding.

Nothing should be taken for granted, even though Toronto’s next three opponents have nothing on the line.

The Clippers, Wednesday night’s opposition, are very beatable because of the dreaded back-to-back scenario. Having played in Milwaukee, L.A.’s task is that much harder given the change in time zones.

On the road in Philly and back home against Golden State, the Raptors have to avoid turning the ball over, which they did for the most part in Charlotte, and limit transition points against teams such as the Sixers and Warriors that rely so much on getting up and down the floor and getting off quick shots.

The next three games could well be a defining moment for the Raptors because what follows is a three-game run against Cleveland, Boston and Atlanta, who are a combined 7-2 against Toronto.

“We know what’s at stake,’’ Hedo Turkoglu said. “We play together and we play hard and we’ll be fine.”

Turkoglu is going to accept whatever role is asked of him. At this stage, he’s got no option. His long-term future in Toronto can wait.

The Raptors could have used his ability to create against Denver and Miami.

When he returned in Charlotte, he came off the bench and he was on the floor in crunch time.

He got caught along the sideline near midcourt that led to a turnover, but Turkoglu moved the ball and gave the Raptors another shooter.

Turkoglu touched upon a key point post-game when he recalled the beating the Bobcats gave Toronto when the Raptors visited Charlotte earlier in the season.

“When you get embarrassed, you want to come back and prove yourself,’’ Turkoglu said.

It’s precisely what the Sixers did to Toronto at the ACC before it embarked on that 0-4 West Coast trip, which included a beat-down by the Warriors.

The Raptors don’t appear as vulnerable because they are less inclined to cave in mentally as they were in the past.

Now, it’s a matter of execution.

The significance of Monday’s win cannot be overstated given what was at stake and how much would have been lost in the event of a loss.

Going 6-3 to end the year with 42 wins is within reach, which isn’t what was expected when the season began but given the events of last month it doesn’t look so bad.

There’s no Melo or no Flash on the immediate horizon until next Tuesday’s visit to Cleveland.

What presents itself is an opportunity, one the Raptors simply can’t afford to mess up.